Drug info - I'm Officially Screwed!

[YellowViolet]

My pain clinic closed it's doors (I've been going 3 years) in December - I was told to go to my Primary Care and get a referral to another pain clinic. I did that and waited 6 weeks for an appt which I kept yesterday. Well, this freeking pain clinic does not prescribed narcotics to fibromyalgia patients which I am! I so tried to convince doc that medicines are prescribed OFF LABEL ALL THE TIME! The only FDC approved treatemtn for fibromyalgia is Lyrica which is a joke and doesn't work at all and the side effects are crazy and intolerable. So now what? I looked in the phone book and there are only 4 pain clinics in Knoxville and 1 is closed and 2 don't prescribe for fibromyalgia! HELP! I am going to be out of Oxycodone/ Opana/ Kadian soon! Where can I get my medicines if there are no other pain clinics to go to? My primary won't prescribe them on a regular basis and the last prescription he wrote he said he can't write again. Any suggestions for a poor soul who cannot stand the thought of withdrawals. I don't really abuse my meds - I take them pretty much as prescribed. The worse thing I do is take my daily allotment too early in the day so I suffer at night and also melt in my mouth the ER Opana at times.

[cockney]

You mean your supply is going to be cut dry with no kind of taper ? Man they can't do that, can they ? Three years on oxy surely they must anticipate the hell you will go through ? If I inflict pain on you it would be an offence.
Is this not an infringement of your human rights ? I would seek legal advise if you can.

[YellowViolet]

Originally Posted by cockney

You mean your supply is going to be cut dry with no kind of taper ? Man they can't do that, can they ? Three years on oxy surely they must anticipate the hell you will go through ? If I inflict pain on you it would be an offence.
Is this not an infringement of your human rights ? I would seek legal advise if you can.

Yes, that's what I mean, I will be out of my meds in a week or so. I am going to go to my Primary care dr on Thursday and tell him he HAS to give me another 30 day supply until I can get to a new clinic. I hope he will as he said he couldn't prescribe it again. But it's HIS freeking fault that he referred me to that pain clinic that doesn't treat my illness! I guess to him a Pain Clinic is a Pain Clinic is a pain clinic. As I wrote in another thread the new pain dr did offer me methadone (which I took him up on it, but after doing some research I really do not want to take it. But the doctor told me even if I do take the methadone I will have some pretty bad withdrawal from Opana??? I don't understand - this is a mess.

[cockney]

Yeah I would share your concern with methadone, from what I have read, and not experienced I must add, but it does seem to turn into a long drawn out thing. But will the 'done not kill the pain ? It's a usefull pain killer I believe. Can't comment on the Opana, know nothing of them.
Talk to your doctor, he has to deal with this, they cannot just lay this on you and leave you.
Swim wknows about the mess, he's in one too although not as heavy. Swim doesn't recieve the pain medication to kill the pain they cannot seem to fix and is currently on a self inforced taper to lower tolorance to both pain killing potential and enjoyment. Unfortunatly the injury swim suffered re-introduced him to things he left alone a long time ago but hopes this time the bounderies are observed and not pushed...
Hope it works out with the doc man, try not to stress until you have spoken to him.

[YellowViolet]

Originally Posted by cockney

Yeah I would share your concern with methadone, from what I have read, and not experienced I must add, but it does seem to turn into a long drawn out thing. But will the 'done not kill the pain ? It's a usefull pain killer I believe. Can't comment on the Opana, know nothing of them.
Talk to your doctor, he has to deal with this, they cannot just lay this on you and leave you.
Swim wknows about the mess, he's in one too although not as heavy. Swim doesn't recieve the pain medication to kill the pain they cannot seem to fix and is currently on a self inforced taper to lower tolorance to both pain killing potential and enjoyment. Unfortunatly the injury swim suffered re-introduced him to things he left alone a long time ago but hopes this time the bounderies are observed and not pushed...
Hope it works out with the doc man, try not to stress until you have spoken to him.

I will try to remember wording here - I'm new to the site: Thank you, I will give SWIM your well wishes. My SWIM too hopes your SWIM is able to keep the boundaries. just remind your SWIM how terrible it was before and how hard it was to leave it alone. Your SWIM succeeded so he should be very proud - if your SWIM keeps reminding how hard it was it might be easier to stay in the boundaries.

[MEKONE]

Originally Posted by uwllv88

As I wrote in another thread the new pain dr did offer me methadone (which I took him up on it, but after doing some research I really do not want to take it. But the doctor told me even if I do take the methadone I will have some pretty bad withdrawal from Opana??? I don't understand - this is a mess.

Not sure but SWIM thinks he also responded in that other thread that SWIY is talking about.SWIY might not feel W/D's by switching to methadone,SWIM felt W/D's going from Meth to Morph and Opana,so Done might hit the spot for SWIY.

As for the whole situation SWIM would talk to the PC Dr. being that he has also prescribed SWIY's regular meds,and see if he would be willing to give SWIY a referal along with a nariative explaining SWIY's situation and how he feels that SWIY has done well in the past with the old meds that SWIY was taking.SWIY must maintain a good relationship with the PC Dr. if they expect to get any help from him and when in the new PN clinic try not to get too upset but still state your case that way SWIY is not labled as a seeker,remember they are not familiar with SWIY.Good Luck!!!!

[SmokeRings]

SWIM feels for uwllv88, although she herself has never tried any of the drugs you were prescribed by your doctor. What SWIM is sad about is that she has heard this happens a lot. Doc prescribes a very addictive medication, things go along fine for a while, then something like your situation happens, and the patient is left without proper ways to detox, etc.

SWIM is wondering if that is an option? You said that you take the prescribed dose, that you don't really abuse it, so is asking your doc to get you into a proper detox facility in the next week not an avenue you'd want to persue?

SWIM doesn't think you are in denial that you are addicted. SWIM could hear the panick in your post and that's why SWIM is most sad. Sad that your doc would not offer to ween you or detox you is inhumane. SWIM wonders why your doctor wouldn't even have already offered that the last time, knowing that these very powerful drugs can be very dangerous if not tapered off properly!!!! SWIM thinks you should get a new doc after all is said and done!

SWIM hopes you will update us all, as she thinks most of us on here have had to endure withdrawls from varying types of drugs at some point, and we can all sympathize on how much it sucks and can be really scary and dangerous.

Best of luck to you!

SWIM knows you'd prefer to just keep taking them, especially for your condition, fybromyalgia is a bitch, SWIM has a friend who's mother was finally diagnosed after years of being told it was all in her head. SWIMs friends mom smokes weed daily now for it, SWIM actually suggested it, after her mother went through countless meds that did nothing. Is that something that you would consider as well? SWIM is aware it's illegal and you might not have anyone you know to purchase it, but it is an option. Weed has helped so many people with so many different problems. SWIM still shakes her head in disbelief that it's still illegal, with all the research that proves it has medicinal value for many, many things. SWIM is bipolar and has smoked daily for at least 10 years. To date, its been the best thing for SWIM, but SWIM obviously can't sit in her office and smoke all day, at all for that matter! (SWIM is weird and is actually productive on it)

Xanax was the only other thing that would curb SWIMs behavior during the day while at work and still be able to function, but alas, her Pharmacologist took her off of it after 3 months (tapered of course) and I quote "because it's highly addictive" yet prescribed Valium to help me sleep at night! Yes, she took me off of one that was working GREAT becaue of it's addictive nature, yet prescribed Valium, which can be just as addictive! SWIM obviously accepted the Valium, yet told her doc that yeah, it helps me sleep, but can't take it at work cuz Valium just makes SWIM sleepy (SWIM didn't think she believed her for some reason), and asked again why she couldn't have Xanax and even pointed out that they are both addictive and considered "controled" in the pharmacies in her state. No good answer. SWIM also quickly pointed out that she was honest about her weed consumption (and tells them honest to goodness how much she smokes) and acknowledges that she has dependency issues and has never denied it! Docs are so eager to prescribe something in the beginning, yet end up having regrets or something and quickly pull you off something because of all the drug seekers out there. Drug seekers are real, and they are a classic case of spoiling it for the one's who do it by the book. Damn you drug seekers, damn you to hell! j/k (sorta)

Just a suggestion, as you may be forced to look into a different option to help curb the withdrawl.

[YellowViolet]

Originally Posted by SmokeRings

SWIM feels for uwllv88, although she herself has never tried any of the drugs you were prescribed by your doctor. What SWIM is sad about is that she has heard this happens a lot. Doc prescribes a very addictive medication, things go along fine for a while, then something like your situation happens, and the patient is left without proper ways to detox, etc.

SWIM is wondering if that is an option? You said that you take the prescribed dose, that you don't really abuse it, so is asking your doc to get you into a proper detox facility in the next week not an avenue you'd want to persue?

SWIM doesn't think you are in denial that you are addicted. SWIM could hear the panick in your post and that's why SWIM is most sad. Sad that your doc would not offer to ween you or detox you is inhumane. SWIM wonders why your doctor wouldn't even have already offered that the last time, knowing that these very powerful drugs can be very dangerous if not tapered off properly!!!! SWIM thinks you should get a new doc after all is said and done!

SWIM hopes you will update us all, as she thinks most of us on here have had to endure withdrawls from varying types of drugs at some point, and we can all sympathize on how much it sucks and can be really scary and dangerous.

Best of luck to you!

SWIM knows you'd prefer to just keep taking them, especially for your condition, fybromyalgia is a bitch, SWIM has a friend who's mother was finally diagnosed after years of being told it was all in her head. SWIMs friends mom smokes weed daily now for it, SWIM actually suggested it, after her mother went through countless meds that did nothing. Is that something that you would consider as well? SWIM is aware it's illegal and you might not have anyone you know to purchase it, but it is an option. Weed has helped so many people with so many different problems. SWIM still shakes her head in disbelief that it's still illegal, with all the research that proves it has medicinal value for many, many things. SWIM is bipolar and has smoked daily for at least 10 years. To date, its been the best thing for SWIM, but SWIM obviously can't sit in her office and smoke all day, at all for that matter! (SWIM is weird and is actually productive on it)

Xanax was the only other thing that would curb SWIMs behavior during the day while at work and still be able to function, but alas, her Pharmacologist took her off of it after 3 months (tapered of course) and I quote "because it's highly addictive" yet prescribed Valium to help me sleep at night! Yes, she took me off of one that was working GREAT becaue of it's addictive nature, yet prescribed Valium, which can be just as addictive! SWIM obviously accepted the Valium, yet told her doc that yeah, it helps me sleep, but can't take it at work cuz Valium just makes SWIM sleepy (SWIM didn't think she believed her for some reason), and asked again why she couldn't have Xanax and even pointed out that they are both addictive and considered "controled" in the pharmacies in her state. No good answer. SWIM also quickly pointed out that she was honest about her weed consumption (and tells them honest to goodness how much she smokes) and acknowledges that she has dependency issues and has never denied it! Docs are so eager to prescribe something in the beginning, yet end up having regrets or something and quickly pull you off something because of all the drug seekers out there. Drug seekers are real, and they are a classic case of spoiling it for the one's who do it by the book. Damn you drug seekers, damn you to hell! j/k (sorta)

Just a suggestion, as you may be forced to look into a different option to help curb the withdrawl.

Thank you so much for your very kind and sympathetic post. SWIM so appreciates it - SWIM has an appt at her Primary Care dr tomorrow and she's going to read him the riot act if he doesn't at least give her another 30 day supply while trying to get into another pain clinic. There is just one left in this area and I was told that they do treat fibromyalgia. Yes, like your friend's mother, SWIM was told it was all in my head and she should see a psychiatrist because all her tests came back normal FOR YEARS!!!! SWIM is suffering so freeking bad with the pain - she says it honestly feels like she was hit by a mack truck or like her husband stood on the bed kicking her all over her body during the night - every morning when she open her eyes. It's excruciating. It takes everything in her to even get out of bed. If she hadn't gotten a root canal 3 years ago and been prescribed hydrocodone for pain SWIM would never have known that there was ANYTHING that could help her pain. That's when she started asking doctors for it and was sent to a pain clinic. After years of taking Celebrex, Vioxx, etc - tried about 15 - 20 medicines for pain (non-narcotic) - even had steroid trigger point injections which did nothing... I mean there's only so many places they can stick a needle and her pain is such that it is very non-specific - it's like it's everywhere!

That is ridiculous that SWIY's doctor would take her off one "really addictive" drug to put her on an even more addictive drug. Why are they so irrational? It makes no sense. I'm sorry SWIY had to go through that and I'm so sorry she has had such problems.

As for weed, in her younger years SWIM smoked it and had a really bad reaction to it and freeked out - SWIM thought she was losing her mind (she actually likes her brain - it took her far in life such that only with a 12th grade education she was able to excel in a career as a legal assistant.) SWIM just did not like the feeling she got from it and all she wanted to do is sleep after smoking it. SWIM also get extremely paranoid while smoking weed and hated the feeling. But she wishes she could - that would be an easy, yet illegal, fix but worth it.

SWIM will let you know what happens tomorrow at the doctor - she has a feeling he will give her another 30 days when she tells him he screwed up by making her wait a month to get into a pain clinic that doesn't even treat her illness so that was HIS FAULT!!!

SWIY detected the panic in my post? She detected right!!!! Once SWIM had a medical procedure done and was told not to take her usual medicine that morning because she would be given anesthesia - well she was in the waiting room for 3 hours and went through living hell with withdrawal!!!! SWIM was freezing, then sweating, rocking back and forth, horrible horrible feeling!!!! And that was just going 12 hours without her meds. I can't imagine days of that!!! So yes, SWIM is scared s***less!!! Again, thank you for your kind post.

[cybergenesis]

God it sounds like the pain management clinic is treating you like a JUNKIE by offering methadone. While methadone can be used for pain, it is usually used for addiction. Its almost like hes saying "your a junkie. All I will give you is methadone".

Its quite stupid how doctors will only prescribe methadone for addiction. WHile its advantageous because it has a long half life, its not that much different from having to take medication a couple of times per day.

[MEKONE]

Originally Posted by cybergenesis

Its quite stupid how doctors will only prescribe methadone for addiction

Here in the U.S there are MANY Dr.'s that would rather prescribe Done over something like Oxycontin(at least in SWIM's neck of the woods)

[cybergenesis]

Originally Posted by MEKONE

Here in the U.S there are MANY Dr.'s that would rather prescribe Done over something like Oxycontin(at least in SWIM's neck of the woods)

Maybe they erroneously believe that Methadone is less likely to be abused because its used "to treat addiction".

I mean seriously, lets say a patient becomes "addicted" to oxycodone, I can just imagine some doctor would "oh dear we had better put you on methadone", but seriously why not just keep them on oxycodone? Sure methadone is convenient (once a day dosing) and cheap. Well I guess in the case of injecting users of heroin etc, methadone is especially useful.

I just hate the whole mentality that exists towards opiates. Seriously, they are less worst than benzodiazepines like xanax. But I'm going off topic (I just woke up)

[SmokeRings]

SWIM wonders if the OP will return to give us an update.
SWIM went to her doc and fired her. SWIM says the meeting was pretty bad, that she was yelling at the doc, because the doc kept asking the same question and SWIM was answering with the same answer and the doc seemed to just disregard her. Docs are a pain in the ass. They give SWIM something, SWIM says it works, doesn't abuse it, then said doc takes it away. So stupid, so irresponsible on the docs part.
SWIM learned the hard way to not be honest anymore about her weed smoking, SWIM thought she was being smart by being honest, apparently docs want you to lie. Stupid. SWIM is too tired from all her own mess to deal w/finding a doc.
OP, hope everything worked out, please update the thread if you can.

[YellowViolet]

Originally Posted by SmokeRings

SWIM wonders if the OP will return to give us an update.
SWIM went to her doc and fired her. SWIM says the meeting was pretty bad, that she was yelling at the doc, because the doc kept asking the same question and SWIM was answering with the same answer and the doc seemed to just disregard her. Docs are a pain in the ass. They give SWIM something, SWIM says it works, doesn't abuse it, then said doc takes it away. So stupid, so irresponsible on the docs part.
SWIM learned the hard way to not be honest anymore about her weed smoking, SWIM thought she was being smart by being honest, apparently docs want you to lie. Stupid. SWIM is too tired from all her own mess to deal w/finding a doc.
OP, hope everything worked out, please update the thread if you can.

Hi Smokerings - I'm really sorry for SWIY's trouble you're having - hope SWIY find another dr!! and soon! Ok, SWIM kept the appt with the Primary Care dr who blamed the new pain clinic dr as being sadistic and told the PCD what he said about the w/d's. After telling him SWIM waited over 30 days to get into that pain clinic and then found out they wouldn't treat me except with methadone and told him SWIM in no way would take that! So they are trying to get SWIM into that other clinic that does treat her disorder (this is so ridiculous what swim has to go thru just to get pain relief) but after all the ramblings he gave swim another 30 days and said he hopes swim can get in soon becuase he really doesn't want to write it again. SWIM asked what he suggested swun di if she can't get in and he said "I guess I'll have to write it but I hope I don't have to." He indicated how the federal authorities get involved and didn't want that.
So for now swim is ok - the dr is nuts - he didn't even look at his records as to what he wrote before and asked me what i was taking. I said Percocet 10/650 3 x/ day and Opana 40 mg (he actually wrote 30 mg last time) so he wrote it for 40 . I could have said 6 x a day and he probably would have written it. For someone who was worried about writing it he sure wasn't very careful.